District Safety & Emergency Leadership Director

Township High School District 214; Arlington Heights (IL); Hybrid; USD 124,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Benefits

Remote work options: Up to 10 days/yr

Medical, dental, and life insurance

Job summary

Township High School District 214 is seeking a Director of Safety & Emergency Management to lead district-wide emergency planning, threat assessments, and crisis response. You will coordinate with first responders, SROs, and building teams to ensure safety across all schools.

The role requires 3+ years in emergency operations and a strong focus on equity, trauma-informed practices, and de-escalation. A 12-month contract is provided, with competitive benefits and on-call readiness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Emergency Management, Public Administration, Criminal Justice, Educational Leadership, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of progressive experience leading emergency operations, public safety initiatives, threat assessments, or crisis response, preferably in a high school educational setting.
• Familiarity with school safety compliance, emergency operations planning (EOP), behavioral threat assessment frameworks (BTAM), and incident command systems (FEMA/NIMS), with a willingness to obtain relevant state and national certifications upon hire.
• Ability to maintain 24/7 on-call availability for district crisis response.
• Demonstrated background incorporating equity, trauma-informed practices, and de-escalation strategies into safety and security protocols.

Responsibilities

• Lead the District Crisis Team, guiding behavioral threat assessment processes, directing emergency response, and recommending safety and security improvements.
• Develop, maintain, and evaluate district Emergency Operations Plans, facility crisis manuals, and emergency flip charts across all school environments.
• Serve as the primary district liaison to municipal first responders and School Resource Officers (SROs), facilitating annual compliance meetings and ongoing interagency alignment.
• Guide building-level administrators on event safety, off-site evacuation protocols, and venue security, while providing hands‑on support during athletic contests, Board meetings, and large‑scale district events.
• Assess physical security infrastructure, equipment, and signage across facilities, partnering with Operations and Technology to keep all safety systems operational.
• Design and deliver professional development on safety protocols for school staff while engaging in personal professional training to maintain industry standards.
• Collaborate with district and building leadership to ensure equity is infused into all safety practices to disrupt inequities and maintain safe, inclusive spaces.
• Investigate security incidents, document detailed findings, deliver formal reporting, and serve as a secondary liaison to local law enforcement and first responders.
• Direct the planning and implementation of annual School Safety Week activities and facilitate regular coordination meetings with campus safety leads and SROs.
• Maintain 24/7 readiness to respond to crisis situations, execute protocols, and support real‑time decision‑making.
• Perform other tasks as assigned by the Director of Activities, Athletics, and Safety or the Superintendency.

Skills

Emergency management frameworks

Incident Command Systems

Threat assessment leadership

Crisis response planning

Stakeholder collaboration

Equity and trauma-informed safety

Education

Bachelor's degree in Emergency Management or related field

Job description

Township High School District 214 is seeking a Director of Safety & Emergency Management to lead district-wide emergency planning, threat assessments, and crisis response. You will coordinate with first responders, SROs, and building teams to ensure safety across all schools.

The role requires 3+ years in emergency operations and a strong focus on equity, trauma-informed practices, and de-escalation. A 12-month contract is provided, with competitive benefits and on-call readiness.